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Travel

Festive Village Returns to Burnaby Village Museum — Presented by Concord Pacific 

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The Burnaby Village Museum will once again transform into a glittering, festive village this winter, as Concord Pacific returns as the presenting sponsor of the beloved Festive Village celebration. From November 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026, families can step back in time to the 1920s and experience the sights, sounds, and nostalgia of an old-fashioned Christmas, free of charge.

For several years running, Concord Pacific Developments has proudly supported the event, helping to make it one of the most anticipated family-friendly celebrations in Metro Vancouver. The partnership has allowed the museum to expand programming, enhance light displays, and continue offering free admission to thousands of visitors each season.

“For so many Burnaby families, making a trip to the Festive Village event is a beloved holiday tradition,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to spread some holiday cheer and support those in need at this time of year.”

Spread across 10 acres, the Burnaby Village Museum feels like stepping onto the set of a holiday film. Its cobbled streets, vintage storefronts, and decorated period homes glow under thousands of lights. Visitors can wander through the General Store, peek into the historic post office, or stop by the Chinese Herbalist Exhibit, a beautifully authentic recreation of a traditional medicine shop that tells the story of Burnaby’s early Chinese communities.

The Festive Village event is one of Burnaby Village Museum’s most popular events. “It really transforms the whole site into this magical town. We’re lucky to have Concord Pacific as our presenting sponsor,” says Jane Lemke, the Museum Curator. 

One of the main attractions is a scavenger hunt based on the 12 Days of Christmas song that takes families across the whole site looking for different clues inside some of the 38 exhibits. Lemke says her favourite clue is the 12 Ladies Dancing exhibit – “a popular selfie site for many of our visitors.”

The 1912 carousel is always a centerpiece for families. The carousel was originally owned by the Lone Star Circus before making its way to the Happyland amusement park, the precursor to Playland at the Vancouver Exhibit Grounds, in 1936. In 1989, the Friends of the Vancouver Carousel Society bought the carousel, restored and rebuilt it, and it found a permanent home at the Burnaby Village Museum. 

The five-week celebration kicks off with Bright in Burnaby, the official tree-lighting ceremony, featuring live music, carolers, and a visit from Father Christmas. The event also supports the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, with proceeds from carousel rides matched by Concord Pacific to help buy toys for local children in need.

This year’s Festive Village festivities will include eco-art installations, live theater, caroling, crafts, and performances by roving entertainers dressed as elves, bakers, and holiday characters. Guests can grab a hot chocolate or treat from Mai’s Café (formerly the Ice Cream Parlour) or one of several food trucks parked along the heritage streets.

For Concord Pacific, the ongoing partnership with the Burnaby Village Museum reflects the company’s broader commitment to community, culture, and family-focused events across the region. Known for supporting local traditions such as the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival and the Honda Celebration of Light, the developer’s support for Festive Village helps ensure the event remains accessible to everyone.

“Festive Village captures the joy and togetherness that make this season so special,” said a representative from Concord Pacific Vancouver. “We’re proud to continue our support for an event that connects families and celebrates Burnaby’s history.”

Whether it’s your first visit or a yearly tradition, Festive Village at the Burnaby Village Museum is one of those rare events that feels timeless. It’s a place where history meets holiday magic—and thanks to Concord Pacific’s continued sponsorship, it remains open and free for all to enjoy.

For the Silo, Liam Barker.

Event Details

Dates: November 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026 (closed December 24 & 25)
Location: Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Admission: Free (donations to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau encouraged)
Tip: Arrive early or take transit—parking fills quickly! For hours, updates, and accessibility info, visit our friends at burnabyvillagemuseum.ca.

Reviews

World First Magnet Operated Coin From Canada Mint

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OTTAWA, June, 2018 / CNW/ – The Mint continues to tap in to its creativity and innovation to further unleash the potential of coin manufacturing and transform the coin collecting experience.  Such is the case with the 2018 $50 Fine Silver Coin – Antique Carousel and several other head-turning coins in the June 2018 numismatic catalogue.

In a world-first, the Mint’s Research & Development team has meticulously created a 6 oz. silver coin featuring a miniature, functional carousel that rotates with the help of a magnet.  This timeless attraction at countless Canadian carnivals and fairs is the crowning piece of artist Calder Moore’s design, selectively plated in gold, much like the gilded carousels of the past.  Even the horses move up and down on this dazzling creation which is limited to a world-wide mintage of only 1,000.

Another impressive 3D design element can be found on the 2018 $200 Pure Gold Coin – 30th Anniversary of the Silver Maple Leaf.  This 1 oz. gold coin is enhanced by a “high intricacy casting” of a silver maple leaf that literally pops from its reverse proof surface.  In another Mint-first, we have launched the 2018 $250 Fine Silver Coin – Maple Leaf Forever: a one kilo 99.99% pure silver coin, our largest convex coin to date, featuring the artwork of senior Mint engraver Stan Witten.

Finally, two new coin sets stand out as memorable additions to an exciting line-up of classic and unique numismatic products.  The 2018 Fine Silver 3-Coin Set – Beneath Thy Shining Skies features a complex design by artist Rebecca Yanovskaya. Two rectangular coins flank a maple-leaf shaped centrepiece to compose a panoramic tableau that links scenery and famous Canadian landmarks to illustrate the story of our nation and its people.

History takes centre stage on a four-coin set celebrating the “Colonial Currency of the Atlantic Provinces”.  Struck with dies mimicking the wear of well-circulated coins and hand finished with an antique patina, these icons of early Canadian numismatic history are beautifully reproduced in 99.99% pure silver.  In order to bring out the elegant features of each period design, each coin is larger in diameter than its original.

Other collectibles available this month include:

  • The 2018 $20 Fine Silver Coin – First World War Allied Forces: Canada, the first coin in a new series commemorating the contribution of the major Allied forces that brought fighting to an end with the Armistice of November 11, 1918. The design featuring the Canadian cavalry is the work of artist Pandora Young;
  • The $100 Fine Silver Coin – Keepers of Parliament: The Unicorn, the first of a series of 10 oz. silver coins, designed by Patrick Bélanger and showcasing stonework figures watching over the front doors of Parliament;
  • The 2018 $30 Fine Silver Coin – Fireworks at the Falls, featuring a Tony Bianco colour illustration of the natural landmark, with a hidden nighttime fireworks scene only visible under black light;
  • The 2018 $500 Pure Gold Coin – Predators of the Wild, an impressive 5 oz. designed by Emily Damstra;
  • The 2018 $30 Fine Silver Coin – Zentangle® Art: The Great Horned Owl, designed by Jori Van Der Linde;
  • The 2018 $30 Fine Silver Coin – Canadian Canopy: The Maple Leaf, designed by Emily Damstra;
  • The 2018 $20 Fine Silver Coin Frozen in Ice – Scimitar Sabretooth Cat, designed by Glen Loates;
  • The 2018 $3 Fine Silver Coin – The Thirteen Teachings from Grandmother Moon: Strawberry Moon, designed by Frank Polson; and,
  • The crystal-enhanced 2018 $5 Fine Silver Coin – Birthstones: July, featuring a mandala-inspired ruby design by artist Pandora Young.

Mintages, pricing and full background information on each product can be found on the “Shop” tab of www.mint.ca. Coin images can be viewed here.

All of these products can be ordered directly from the Mint at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada,
1-800-268-6468 in the US, or online at www.mint.ca.  Please mention The Silo when contacting. The coins are also available at the Royal Canadian Mint’s boutiques in Ottawa and Winnipeg, as well as through our global network of dealers and distributors, including participating Canada Post outlets.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified corporation, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale.